Top 10 countries with the highest unemployment rates
European and African countries dominate the list for 2015, as compiled with data from the International Labour Organisation.
Globally over 201 million people are unemployed, with the numbers expected to increase over the next few years, according to data from the International Labour Organisation (ILO).
More than 61 million jobs have been lost since the start of the global crisis in 2008, and by 2019, more than 212 million people will be without employment.
The problem is more endemic among young professionals, with the global youth unemployment rate standing at roughly 13 per cent.
Regionally, more than 30 per cent of young Arabs are unemployed because of unrest in region, Ahmad Mohammed Luqman, the director general of the Arab Labour Organisation said last month.
“Unrest and a lack of investments have boosted the number of jobless,” he said.
GCC countries, however, have managed to maintain healthy levels of employment among their citizens, with Qatar even topping the list for the lowest unemployment rate worldwide at 0.3 per cent, according to the ILO.
Top 10 countries with highest unemployment rates worldwide
(Data from ILO’s 2015 estimates)
1) MAURITANIA
Region: Western Africa
Classification: Lower middle-income
Population: 3.89 million
Unemployment rate: 30.9%
2) REUNION
Region: Overseas region of France
Population: 0.8 million
Unemployment rate: 29.4%
3) MACEDONIA
Region: Southern Europe
Classification: Upper middle-income
Population: 2.107 million
Unemployment rate: 28.2%
4) BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
Region: Southern Europe
Classification: Upper middle-income
Population: 3.829 million
Unemployment rate: 27.5%
5) GUADELOUPE
Region: Overseas region of France
Population: 0.4 million
Unemployment rate: 25.8%
6) LESOTHO
Region: Africa
Classification: Lower middle-income
Population: 2.074 million
Unemployment rate: 25.7%
7) WEST BANK AND GAZA
Region: Middle East
Classification: Lower middle-income
Population: 4.170 million
Unemployment rate: 25.3%
8) SOUTH AFRICA
Region: Africa
Classification: Upper middle-income
Population: 53.16 million
Unemployment rate: 25%
9) GREECE
Region: Southern Europe
Classification: High-income
Population: 11.03 million
Unemployment rate: 24.6%
10) SPAIN
Region: Southern Europe
Classification: High-income
Population: 24.62 million
Unemployment rate: 23.6%